Rising Stars: Meet Pauline Ogbac of Porter Ranch

Today we’d like to introduce you to Pauline Ogbac.

Hi Pauline, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I moved to Los Angeles in November 2017 from Manila, Philippines. I was 19 at the time, and honestly, I didn’t want to move. I was born and raised in Manila, all my friends were there, I had my own life there, and I was young. I even had a partner at the time, so leaving didn’t feel exciting, it felt like I was being pulled away from everything familiar.

I was also in my second year of film school, and I didn’t want to pause my studies. But my mom really wanted me and my siblings to move here permanently and stay with her. She kept telling me there were more opportunities in LA, especially in my field. At that time, I couldn’t see it, and I definitely wasn’t ready to accept that this would be my new home.

I stayed in LA for about eight months, but I decided to go back to Manila to continue where I left off. And that’s when things really started to pick up for me creatively. I started working on sets, first as a production assistant, then getting exposure in production management, and eventually producing short films. I felt like I was finally starting to find my place, and I was genuinely excited about where things were going.

Then COVID happened, and everything shut down, including school. I ended up back in LA again while waiting for things to reopen. That period shifted my mindset a lot. I started realizing there really were opportunities here, but I still wanted to finish what I started. My mom told me to go back home, complete my final stretch of school, and then come back to LA for good. So that’s what I did.

When I moved to LA permanently, it was rough at first. I was home for about three months applying to jobs nonstop, specifically in production, and nothing was working out. It was frustrating because I felt like I had to start from zero. I didn’t have connections here yet, I didn’t have experience in the LA industry, and I was trying to figure out how to build a career in a place that felt so big and competitive.

The first job I landed wasn’t directly in film production, but it was connected. I worked for a COVID testing company that supported film sets, and it was owned and managed by people in the film industry. I didn’t think twice, I took it right away. I knew it would at least get me closer to sets, and I saw it as a way to meet people and stay connected to the industry. I stayed there for about a year and a half, met great people, and eventually got my first small production opportunity through someone I became friends with.

But at the same time, I kept hearing that production was slow and hard to break into because of COVID and the strike. So I kept looking for other ways to keep creating and still build a stable career. That’s when I landed remote work as a social media coordinator and video editor for marketing agencies. I did that for almost two years, and I actually loved it. I realized I enjoy short-form content and digital storytelling a lot. It was still creative, but it was also strategic, and I liked that it didn’t come with the burnout of long set days.

That experience is what pushed me to start my own agency. In September 2024, I was sitting in a coffee shop in Vancouver visiting my partner, and I started writing down all these ideas for what I wanted to build. I originally thought of the name “Nailed It Media,” but it was already taken. Then I thought about what I wanted the brand to feel like. I didn’t want it to be just about me. I wanted clients to feel like they were working with a real team, because I truly believe you can’t grow anything great alone. That’s how We Nailed It Media was born.

A few months later, I got my business license. During that time, I started landing freelance clients directly, not through agencies, and I was exploring different niches like events and healthcare. Then I came across a piece of construction content that was so engaging and it honestly sparked something in me. I started researching the industry nonstop and realized there was a huge opportunity there. Construction and real estate have some of the most satisfying stories to tell because you literally watch something go from nothing to a finished build.

I started pitching a lot, sending proposals, reaching out to companies, and hearing nothing back for a while. Eventually, I decided to offer free work just to prove what I could do in that space. That became my first construction client, and I’ll always be grateful for that first “yes” because it gave me the proof I needed to grow. After that, I landed more clients, and it started building momentum.

Today, We Nailed It Media focuses on video production, photography, and social media marketing for builders, developers, and real estate brands. I love what we do because it combines everything I care about. Storytelling, visuals, and helping businesses show the quality of their work in a way that actually attracts the right clients. And personally, I just love progress. Watching a project go through phases and finally come together feels like a reflection of my own journey too.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Not at all, it definitely wasn’t a smooth road.

The biggest struggle for me was starting over from zero when I moved to LA permanently. I didn’t have connections here, I didn’t have experience in the LA industry, and I was applying to so many jobs in my field with no luck. That period was honestly frustrating and humbling because I knew I had the skills and the work ethic, but I couldn’t get my foot in the door.

Another struggle was figuring out my direction. I came from a film background, and I thought I would go straight into production here, but the reality was different. Between COVID and the strike, the industry slowed down a lot, and everyone was saying how hard it was to get consistent work. It made me question myself, not in a dramatic way, but more like, “Okay, what’s the smarter path forward if I still want to create and grow?”

When I started freelancing for marketing agencies, it was a big learning curve too. I had to learn how to balance creativity with strategy, deadlines, client expectations, and systems. It wasn’t just about making something look good, it was about making content that performs and actually helps a business.

Starting my own agency came with a whole different set of struggles. The hardest part was getting that first yes. I was pitching nonstop, sending proposals, getting seen, and hearing nothing back. It’s a weird feeling because you’re doing everything you can, but you don’t have proof yet in that niche. That’s why I eventually offered free work, not because I wanted to work for free long-term, but because I needed one opportunity to show what I could really do.

And I think the last struggle is something a lot of entrepreneurs don’t talk about enough, which is the mental part. There were moments where I felt behind, or I felt like I was figuring things out later than everyone else. But I had to remind myself that I moved countries, rebuilt my life more than once, and I’m building something from scratch. That’s not supposed to be easy.

So no, it hasn’t been smooth, but every hard part shaped how I work now and how I run my business today.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
My work is a mix of creative production and marketing strategy. I run We Nailed It Media, and we create video content, photography, and social media marketing for builders, developers, and real estate brands. Most of what we do is short-form content, so Reels, progress updates, project walkthroughs, and brand storytelling that feels modern and intentional.

What we specialize in is making construction and real estate look premium without making it feel overly staged or fake. We capture the real process, the details, and the craftsmanship, then we turn that into content that helps our clients attract better projects, build trust, and stand out.

I think what we’re known for is being creative, but still grounded. A lot of construction content out there feels either too generic or too “salesy,” and we try to stay away from that. We bring a more cinematic approach to the way we shoot and edit. We use techniques like speed ramping, clean transitions, and even light VFX when it makes sense, but we always keep it tied to the real story of the build. It’s a mix of high-end visuals and honest progress.

Another thing that sets us apart is that we’re a female-owned and operated team in a space that’s still very male-dominated. A lot of people assume construction/real estate media is run by men, so when clients or even other media owners reach out and realize it’s a woman behind the brand, they’re genuinely surprised. I take that as a compliment, but it also motivates me. It pushes me to keep showing up and raising the standard, not just for myself, but for other women who want to step into this space too.

What I’m most proud of is that I built this from the ground up. I didn’t have an “in” in the construction or real estate space, and I didn’t have a big network in LA when I started. I had to earn trust one client at a time, and I’m proud of how far we’ve come.

At the end of the day, we’re not just documenting projects. We’re helping builders and developers build a strong brand presence that makes people trust them before they even reach out.

Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
Definitely. I’m big on learning and mindset, especially as someone building a business.

One book that helped me a lot is Emotional Intelligence by William Mind. It really changed the way I think about self-awareness, communication, and how to handle pressure without letting emotions take over. Running a business comes with a lot of high and low moments, so learning how to stay calm, think clearly, and respond instead of react has been huge for me.

I also love The Daily Stoic. It helps me stay grounded when I’m stressed or overthinking. It reminds me to focus on what I can control and not waste energy on things I can’t.

On top of that, I’ve watched a lot of TED Talks on YouTube over the years. Anytime I feel stuck or unmotivated, I’ll watch a few and it usually resets my mindset. It’s a quick reminder that everyone goes through setbacks and uncertainty, but you can still build something meaningful.

And honestly, a big part of what helps me is the values I was taught at home. My family raised me with a strong work ethic and resilience, and I carry that with me in everything I do.

Pricing:

• pricing is custom based on project scope, location, and deliverables. We offer both monthly packages and per project options.
• But ranges from 3,500-6,000

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.wenaileditmedia.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wenailedit.media/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wenaileditmedia
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/we-nailed-it-media